Mariana caught her hand and pulled her down on the bed beside her.
"What a treasure you are!" she said. "Do you know you are the one woman I absolutely believe in? You might have made a fortune by reporting scandals about me, and you haven't done so."
The maid brought in several letters, and Mariana took them from her and broke the seals carelessly.
"Mr. Gore is coming forward again," she remarked, tossing an open sheet on the counterpane. "You knew he did not like that worshipful old uncle of his leaving me his property. He says it has made me too independent. Well, it has made me independent of him, for which Heaven be praised. When I heard of it I repeated the Thirty-nine Articles, fifty Hail Mary's, and as much of the Shorter Catechism as I could think of. I feel so thankful."
"I am sorry for that, Mariana."
"You wouldn't be if you knew him. You are too economical to squander emotions."
"But it does seem rather hard on him," said Miss Ramsey.
Mariana laughed.
"It would have been worse on me had I stayed with him," she responded. "And now, if Janet has my bath ready, I think I'll get up."
An hour later she came down-stairs in her hat and coat, and went for her morning walk in the park. When she returned she ordered the carriage, and went shopping, accompanied by Miss Ramsey.